The Emir of Kano, His Highness Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, has urged a return to the state’s traditional value systems as a practical way to confront the growing wave of drug abuse among young people. His message, delivered by the District Head of Shanono, Dr Bashir Mohammad, came at the opening of a three-day Stakeholders’ Summit on Drug Abuse hosted by the Kano Reformative Centre.
He described drug abuse as an attack on the dignity of the community and a mounting threat to Kano’s future. He warned that each young person lost to drugs represents a broken lineage and a halted dream, and he called for broader vigilance from families, neighbourhoods and institutions.
Sanusi explained that the challenge cannot be solved by any single body. He called for stronger coordination in intelligence gathering, community responsibility, medical care and religious guidance, supported by cultural values that once shaped disciplined and resilient communities. He reminded participants that earlier generations in Kano thrived under communal systems built on mentorship and shared responsibility, where every adult served as a guide and every child was seen as a collective responsibility.
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He appealed to traditional rulers, faith leaders, parents and youth groups to rebuild those social structures and deepen their involvement in public awareness, stigma reduction and rehabilitation efforts. He said every rescued child represents a future put back on track.
The Emir praised the Kano Reformative Centre and its partners for their work and assured them of the Emirate Council’s continued support.
KRC Coordinator, Cheryl Kwagga, said the daily realities seen at the centre show how drug abuse fuels broken homes, insecurity and lost aspirations. She called for sustained collaboration across all sectors, noting that the scale of the crisis demands a united front.
